CINCO DE MAYO CELEBRATION RAISES OVER $80,000 FOR FAMILIES IN TRANSITION

(DSC_0505.jpg) VOLUNTEERS OF THE YEAR AWARDED – Families in Transition (FIT) presented their 2016 Volunteer of the Year awards at their cinco de mayo celebration event. Pictured (l. to r.): Dick Anagnost, FIT Board Chair and President of Anagnost Companies; Emily Melhorn, FIT Manager of Volunteers; Danielle Llewelyn, Derryfield School (Volunteer Group of the Year); Maureen Beauregard, FIT Founder and President; Susan Grodman, Derryfield School (Volunteer Group of the Year); Roxanne Olsen, 2016 FIT Volunteer of the Year; Helen Davies, FIT Board Member and Director of Community Relations at Southern New Hampshire University.

MANCHESTER, NH – Families in Transition (FIT), a Manchester, Concord, and Dover, NH, based homeless services provider, raised over $80,000 at the return of their annual cinco de mayo celebration. FIT had previously had a ten year run of the event, but took a hiatus in 2013. Funds raised at the event will be used towards providing housing, social services, substance use treatment, and home essentials for families and individuals in need.

“Seeing all of these people come out and support us was amazing,” said FIT Founder and President, Maureen Beauregard. “We really strive to make our events fun but we count on the community support to really make them successful, and this year it was clear that the support is there.”

The event featured live music, dancing, food, auction, game of chance, and an award ceremony acknowledging FIT volunteers. The Derryfield School was awarded “Volunteer Group of the Year” for their ongoing volunteerism at FIT’s OutFITters Thrift Stores, as well as providing a monthly dinner for FIT participants. The awardee for “Volunteer of the Year”, Roxanne Olsen, also volunteers in multiple capacities with the organization. She has volunteered over 1,000 hours over the past three years at OutFITters, various events, and at FIT’s Family Place Head Start Preschool.

Families in Transition is a nonprofit organization that provides safe, affordable housing and social services to individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, enabling them to gain self-sufficiency and respect. FIT also owns and operates two thrift stores in Manchester and Concord, NH which serve as economic engines to help pay for services that FIT provides. For more information about FIT, the stores, and the event, visit www.fitnh.org or call 603-641-9441.